Reaching the Millennial Generation Faith Spelbring, DCE Manager, Regional Outreach Conferences Lutheran Hour Ministries

Reaching the Millennial Generation Know Your Audience Serve Your Audience

Know Your Audience Pew Forum Millennial Generation Study UCLA Higher Education Research Institute Study

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o Highest % of college students compared to other generations at this age o Very sheltered o Very structured time

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o 38% of Millennials are tattooed: o Millennials want everyone to fit in o They identify themselves as “liberal” and are more sympathetic to immigrants, homosexuals, etc. WITH ONE EXCEPTION!!!

Pew Forum Study

The Millennial Generation o Millennials, though “liberal,” are conventional: o Want to spend time with their parents o 1 in 8 Millennials have moved back home with their parents after college

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o Result: o Confidence in self, confident in economic future... o Ethic of team work o They respect previous generations o Hang out the only way they can… online!

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o Less religious in terms of affiliation and attendance o They are not “secular”

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o Biggest predictor of leaving the faith is interreligious mix of parents o Raised by boomers (seekers)

Pew Forum Study The Millennial Generation o Until 20 years ago, “young” meant that you were attracted to evangelical churches Not anymore!

UCLA Study Higher Education Research Institute The Spiritual Life of College Students A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose o 112,232 incoming freshmen students o 236 colleges and universities o Six-page survey

UCLA Study High levels of spiritual interest and involvement: o 3/4 searching for meaning/purpose in life o >3/4 believe in god o >2/3 agree religious/spiritual beliefs provide them with strength, support, and guidance o 4/5 have attended religious services in past year o 4/10 say it is essential or very important to follow religious teaching in everyday life

o ¾ feel a sense of connection with God/Higher Power that transcends personal self o 56% perceive God as love or creator o 49% experience God as protector o 44% have felt loved by God in the past year High levels of spiritual interest and involvement: o >2/3 pray o 61% weekly o 28% daily o 68% for loved ones o 59% gratitude o 58% forgiveness o 58% solve problems UCLA Study

“Despite their strong religious commitment, students also demonstrate a high level of religious tolerance and acceptance.” o 64% agree most people can grow spiritually without being religious o 63% disagree that people who don’t believe in God will be punished

UCLA Study Student idealism: o 63% say helping others who are in difficulty is essential or very important o 55% say reducing pain and suffering in the world is essential or very important Act on ideas: o 82% performed volunteer work in high school o 70% say they are trying to change things that are unfair in the world

UCLA Study Student Doubts o 65% occasionally felt distant from god o 57% question their beliefs o 48% have felt angry with god o 52% disagree with families about religious matters

UCLA Study How did the Lutherans rank? o Sixth largest percentage of students (5%) o Roman Catholic = 28% o None = 17% o Baptist = 13% o Other Christian = 6%

UCLA Study How did the Lutherans rank? o Below average on: o Religious Skepticism – universe arose by chance, science will explain everything, no life after death o Religious Struggle – unsettled about religious matters, feel distant from god, question religious beliefs o Spiritual Quest – interest in meaning/purpose in life, want to find answers to life’s mysteries, develop philosophy of life o (lowest of all religious groups) o Ethic of Caring – values helping others in difficulty, reducing pain & suffering in the world, making world a better place o (lowest of all religious groups)

Meet Your Audience

Serve Your Audience o Get to know the Millennials in your life o Learn about them o Learn what they are being taught o Learn what they think of the church o Meaningful involvement o Build around their passions o Build them into leadership o Challenge them o Serious study of God’s Word o Sharing their faith

Serve Your Audience o Getting to know Millennials o Take them out for coffee o Group dinners o Adopt a student program o Take a class on campus o Evaluate ministry and act on what they say

Serve Your Audience o Meaningful involvement o Service opportunities o Community Service – in areas of interest for them o Park/beach clean up o Plant trees o Mission trip – in areas of interest for them o Mexico o New Orleans o Haiti o Leadership roles o Lead mission project – for the whole church! o Church council? o Shepherd the next generation

Serve Your Audience o What services can you offer o Marriage o Parenting o Finances o Saving for Retirement o How can we use technology to reach them? o Twitter/Facebook o Images/Video o Text

Serve Your Audience o Challenge them o Learn about other religions o Evangelism training

Serve Your Audience o Love the Millennials in your life! o Offer them what no one else will…Jesus!

Reaching the Millennial Generation Thank you!